Interview with a ConTessa GM: She's a Super Geek

In this series, we’ve asked the women who ran events to talk to us about the whole experience so you can get an inside view of what it’s like to run at ConTessa! Senda (She's a Super Geek) ran All Outta Bubblegum for us during our game weekend in February, and Lasers & Feelings for Contessa’s game night at Gen Con.

Say hi, and tell everyone a little about yourself and what you did at ConTessa.

Hi! I’m Senda. I ran a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy themed All Outta Bubblegum game for one of Contessa’s online events last year, and more recently two quick games of Lasers & Feelings for Contessa’s game night at Gen Con.

How did you choose those events?

I was and continue to be excited about being an ambassador for RPGs and how fun they are. I find that playing online suits my current life situation much better, and I’m sure that other folks are in the same boat, but playing with new people is also (usually) great! It can be hard to have a convention-like experience on the internet, but Contessa provides that, and with a vision that I strongly align with for putting women in leadership roles. I like to run games that are very accessible for old hats and new peeps, so rules light is how I roll at conventions in general. I am also influenced by finding new games, and I like giving people a good reason to play something they may not have experienced before.

What was the best part?

I have two answers here:

The best part is feeling like there is a community of like minded individuals gathering together to make this event work.

The other best parts were the iShip, a spaceship developed secretly by Apple for the military, and one team of folks nearly managing a TPK in Lasers and Feelings, where there aren’t even any rules for how you take damage (if you blow up the ship you’re on in outer space, I’m hard pressed to figure out a way to save you). I played in all instances with great groups of people and had a lot of fun.

If you had ultimate power (muahahaha), what would you change for the next ConTessa?

Can we do game night again next year at Gen Con? That was GREAT.

A better sign up system for tracking what spots are taken in a gaming would make the virtual conventions easier to plan for.

Why is ConTessa important to you?

Contessa’s creation of a safe space for women in leadership roles in gaming is the best way we can continue to encourage each other and bring in more people who may be interested but afraid of negative backlash. It is unfortunate that existing in this space becomes a political statement but it still is -- and a good one. It’s good to have a space where we don’t have to continuously have that conversation.